Saturday, 9 May 2009

I've been everywhere...man! ;-)

My header picture was taken at Babbacombe, earlier today.
On a clear day you can see right across Lyme Bay... to Portland Bill.
It was slightly hazy as we gazed across the sea ..but we could just make out Portland.
I have to say that I've been all over the place today and I left my scissors behind, so as not to upset anyone!! ;-) LOL!

My day began here...not everyone's cup of tea, I know!
Torquay United Football Club.
I know that I am a bit strange, loving the beautiful game ..but Nich did tell me the other day that it was 'cool' having a mum who does..!
And I would not normally go on about my love of the game ...but... many teams and supporters would give their right arm to go to Wembley, wouldn't they?!
And I'm going! On Sunday!
But I'm not excited..not me!!;-)
I've not yet been to the new Wembley stadium...(it broke my heart when they knocked down the old one but I'll give the new one a try!)
But hey you can get art out of footy!
Schoolchildren, from St Marychurch, Torquay, made this wonderful mosaic on a wall, outside the ground ...

We had parked at a place called 'St Marychurch' and as we wandered across the park to the football ground we admired an avenue of Horse Chestnut trees, which stood proud and tall ...my photo does not do this justice...t'was such splendour!


And this beautiful Laburnum caught my eye...hasn't the tree blossom been so gorgeous, this year?!



Returning to St Marychurch, for coffee and a stroll, was a real treat.
Packed into this pretty little Victorian style precinct, are a wide choice of independently owned, small shops. Dare I say it..it is heaps better than Torquay town centre!



I wish I lived just a little bit nearer to shop here daily!
It has everything one needs ...and charity shops (note the plural)


I always like to try to spot querky features..studying History as my main subject at college,I was always taught to look up...so I do...!



On the other hand, I often don't look where I am going, because I am usually so busy admiring 'high up things'... and thus I trip over a lot..!

Whereas Mr S always, without fail, finds money on the ground.
He didn't study history, obviously.


Wrapped around a lamp post in the precinct were these fish..they obviously didn't look where they were going either! LOL!

It was time to head inland...from coast to countryside.
I had no idea how one would link St Marychurch to Ashburton...

so let's try ..fish!



Here's the fish deli (above), featured in a recent Country Living .



Here's 'The Snug ' where I purchased that lovely little mini garden bench, last spring. I adore this shop!



And here's 'Odds and Suds' where we were hoping to find something special for our bathroom.


I adore this shop too!
http://www.oddsandsuds.com/home.php




The owner is so friendly and helpful!



A trip to Ashburton is a must if you are in the area.


Next door... is Sara's Lavender box..and guess what?
Yes, I adore this one... but I forgot to take a photo as I was making a purchase!
But here's their website to enjoy and make appropriate noises as you do so!


And finally, we always have a quick browse here...as we normally find a parking space right outside!



Phew!
After all that ' gallivanting ' I need a rest...!
Hope your Saturday was a good one! ;-)

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18 comments:

  1. galant9 May 2009 at 21:14

    How extraordinary! We were in St Marychurch and on Babbacombe Downs today, between 12 noon and 2.30 pm! We went to the fish shop in St Marychurch for some fix pie mix. We had parked in Cary Park and after getting the fish, walked through Cary Park, up into York Crescent, across the main Babbacombe Road onto the Downs, then up and over Walls Hill before returning to our car in Cary Park (and then popping in to Otter Nursery for some plants and their offer of a £1 pair of garden gloves with one of their tokens from a flyer.)
    We stood and looked at that view out over Lyme Bay, too, today ... wonderful isn't it? Who'd want to live anywhere else but in glorious Devon! There are some pottery mugs in the gallery opposite Bygones, too, which have the legend Devon Born, Devon Bred. I don't think they finish this rhyme on the other side!
    Margaret P

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  2. galant9 May 2009 at 21:24

    Just a PS:

    I should've added my best wishes and good luck for our team, the Gulls, at Wembley!
    Also, I used to live in one of the shops in St Marychurch Precinct! When my parents owned their shop there (1951-1962) it was before it was a Precinct, and there was two-way traffic! Double decker buses used to pass - or try to - each other in this very narrow street. They regularly used to get stuck and would mount the pavement in order to pass one another. I could touch them from our bedroom windows above the shop!
    Today St Marychurch is a delightful shopping centre and you can get just about everything there and many of the shops are the same as during the 1950s, the butcher, the newsagent, the ironmonger, etc.
    Margaret P

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  3. Simone9 May 2009 at 21:49

    What a lovely day out and about! I am sure you will have a lovely time at the new Wembley stadium too!

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  4. menopausalmusing9 May 2009 at 22:44

    Funnily enough, I just commented this afternoon to His Nibs that the Laburnums were exceptional this year. You look to have had a lovely afternoon out. We went to a reclamation yard. Not looking for anything in particular, but it threw up all sorts of wonderful "finds" on our doorstep. x

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  5. Yvonne Temple9 May 2009 at 23:35

    I love Ashburton too.. so many gorgeous little shops. Odds and suds is so inspiring, she has a real knack for display and everything looks good enough to eat. Talking of eating.. have you been to the Green Ginger cafe? They have wonderful food and the staff are really friendly.. highly recommended.

    May have to take a visit again soon....

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  6. Anonymous10 May 2009 at 01:35

    Glad you had such a fab day :o)
    The Laburnum is amazing!
    x
    Sumea

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  7. Josie-Mary10 May 2009 at 08:13

    What lovely photo's Sal. I'm starting to wish I could drive because I never get to visit all these lovely places. I like the look of the shops, I'm off to check out the links.
    Good luck at Wembley, I loved the old one too. :)

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  8. Anonymous10 May 2009 at 11:08

    What delightful shops! I'm in love with them! xxx

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  9. Kitty10 May 2009 at 12:05

    Your posts so often make me want to head straight for Devon. This one is no different. I visited Babbacombe as a child - a lovely place.

    Hope you have a fantabulous day at Wembley!!

    x

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  10. galant10 May 2009 at 17:08

    Tiz me, yet again. I expect I've said this to you before, but it won't hurt to say it again: my parents moved from industrial (as it then was) Lancashire to Torquay in 1951. My mother said it was worth going without one meal a day in order to live in Devon! And she meant it! She adored her adopted county and never returned to Lancashire. But who could blame her? Torquay in the 1950s, especially St Marychurch (where we lived) and nearby Babbacombe were on a different planet to the Industrial North and the smoke belching fctory chimneys. I think the view from Babbacombe Downs to Portland Bill is one of the best views in the whole of the British Isles and yet whenever there is a competition for 'best view' it is never mentioned. As for looking down from Ilsham Drive to Thatcher Rock ... on a hot day, it could be mistaken for the south of France!
    Margaret P

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  11. silverpebble10 May 2009 at 18:01

    What a lot of very gorgeous shop Sal. I'm so envious - wish I could visit them but a five hour journey is a bit of a trek! Did you buy some precious things?

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  12. Rosie10 May 2009 at 19:53

    Looks like a super day out, so many gorgeous things - enjoy Wembley and good luck to your team:)

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  13. Rosie10 May 2009 at 20:27

    I;ve never been to this area and ashburton looks an interesting place with some good shops. Good luck to your team and I hope you enjoy your Wembley experience.

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  14. Sweet Cottage Dreams11 May 2009 at 04:53

    Gorgeous, gorgeous places to go and spend time at. I love the view of the sea...just amazing.
    I would love to visit England someday...it is as though it calls to me.

    xo
    Becky

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  15. Floss11 May 2009 at 08:49

    'Babbacombe Stanley - the man they couldn't hang!' - well, that's the kind of bizarre memory you retain if you leave Devon at the age of 18... I think I do remember Babbacombe itself too - what lovely pictures to jog my memory.

    Thanks for entering my giveaway. I would have loved to have seen your tartan classroom!

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  16. Floss11 May 2009 at 08:50

    PS Thanks for the link too!

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  17. Jane W11 May 2009 at 17:56

    St Marychurch looks lovely - I am horrified to discover that it must be just over 30 years since the last time I visited it (we used to be regular visitors every 6 months or so when we went to see friends in Torquay).
    Jane

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  18. Bobbie Lynn13 May 2009 at 18:03

    Thanks for taking us window shopping with you.

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Thank you for taking the time to comment! ;-)

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